прекрати
prekradi
To say "stop it" in Russian, use прекрати (prekradi).
While it can mean to stop a physical movement, it is most commonly used as a command to tell someone to stop an annoying behavior or an ongoing activity.
Which one should you use?
The form прекрати is the informal singular imperative, used with friends, children or people you know well, whereas прекратите is used for formal situations or groups.
How does it change in a sentence?
The infinitive form of the verb is прекратить. The polite or plural imperative form is прекратите.
How do you pronounce it?
prekradi
Did you know?
- The verb прекратить shares a root with the word красивый, meaning 'beautiful', because both originally related to the idea of 'forming' or 'shaping' something to a finish.
- In very informal or slang settings, a Russian speaker might use завязывай, which literally means 'tie it up', to tell someone to stop doing something.
- To tell someone to 'stop it' in a way that suggests they are being ridiculous, Russians often use the word брось, which literally means 'throw' or 'drop it'.
Examples in context
- Прекрати или я закричу!Stop it or I'll scream!The first sentence uses прекрати to express a threat of screaming.Tatoeba #3300365 by marafon, translation #3300288 by Hybrid
- Мы можем это прекратить?Can we stop it?The second sentence uses прекратить to ask if an action can be stopped.Tatoeba #5720672 by marafon, translation #3327484 by CK
- Нам надо это прекратить.We have to stop it.The third sentence uses прекратить to state a necessity to stop something.Tatoeba #12727476 by marafon, translation #3312368 by CK
- Перестаньте шуметь!Stop making noise!
- Хватит уже, пожалуйста!Stop it already, please!
- 42 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anastasia and Alexander are arguing in a room.
- Анастасия AnastasiaПрекрати сейчас же!Prekrati seychas zhe!Stop it right now!
- Александр AleksandrЧто я сделал?Chto ya sdelal?What did I do?
- Анастасия AnastasiaТы меня раздражаешь.Ty menya razdrazhayesh'.You are annoying me.
- Александр AleksandrХорошо, я замолчу.Khorosho, ya zamolchu.Okay, I will be quiet.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
